Vehicle signal



1935 H. E. TURNER 2,012,646

' VEHICLE SIGNAL Filed Jan 11, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I nventof 17672775 Turner;

27, 1935. H.- E. TURNER 2,012,646

VEHICLE S IGNAL Filed Jan. 11, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor [7672 7y 5 720mm,

Attorney Patented Aug. 27, 1935 UNITED; STATES A ENT oFF lcEv VEHICLE new. Henry E. .Turner, Willows,' Calif. 7 Application January 11, 1934, SerialNo', 706,273

. Claims; (Gl.116 -2) g g arrow I I while the front of said signal arm may Thepresent invention relates to new and useful improvements in vehicle signals and has for one of its important objects to provide,v in a manner as hereinafter set forth,,a device of this character which may be conveniently operated by the driver of the vehicle without the necessity of opening the adjacent window.

Another important object of the inventionis to. provide a vehicle signal of the illuminated type embodying novel meansfor automatically closing the. circuit when the signal arm is swung to any of its operative positions. v

Other objects of the invention are to provide 1 a vehicle signal of the characterdescribed which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly'efiicient and reliablein operation, compactand which may be manufactured and installed at low cost. 7

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:-

Figure l is an elevational view, looking at the outer side of a vehicle signal constructed in accordance with the present invention. I

Figure 2 is an elevational Vl6W,' looking at the inner side of the invention.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of a portion of the invention.

Figure 4 is a view in rear elevation.

Figure 5 is a view in vertical transverse section,

taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in section, taken substantially on the line 6--6 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic View of the electric spaced brackets 6 in which a'longitudinal shaft l is journaled. The reference numeral 8 designates a signal arm which is adjustably secured on one end portion of the shaft 1 by suitable means, such as a setscrew 9. The signal arm 8 is of hollow construction and has mounted therein one or more incandescent lamps II]. The rear face of the signal arm 8 has formed therein an be provided with an amber window.

Journaled transversely in the :platesI and'Z isa shaft I2.which. of course,-passes through the panel 3 of the vehiclebody. The shaftlZ extends inwardly from the plate" 2 and has .its

inner end portion journaled in an angular bracket l3 on the inner plate2. .Fixed on the ishaftSIZ, I

between the plate 2 and the bracket I3, is an arm Hi to which one end of a rod is adjustably and pivotally connected by'a :yoke 16.? The other end of the rod I5 is pivotally and adjustably connected to one end of a lever 1:1 bya yoke I8. The lever I'Iis pivotally mounted at'anintel v A" y mediate point, as atrl9, on aquadrant .The' quadrant 213, which is rigidly secured on the 'vehicle body, is preferably intheform of avmetallic plate having spaced indentations 2| in its marf ginal portion. The indentations H are for the reception of a spring actuated latch 22 which-is pivotally mounted on the handle end portion .of the lever l'I, said lever being provided with an opening 23 (see Figure 6) in which the latchis operable.As will be apparent, the-latch 22 is 1 selectively engageable in the indentations 2| for releasably locking the signal arm 8 in the desired position. e

The reference numeral 24 designates a block of" insulating material which is mounted on the outer plate I between the brackets 6. Mounted on the insulating block 24 is a contact or brush 25 ,to which the ground wire 26 from the signal arm 8 is electrically connected. Fixed on the shaft 1 is a cam 21 which is engageable with the contact 25 when thesignal arm 8 is swung to any of its operative positionsthereby. grounding the electric circuit and energizing the electric lamp or lamps It] in said signal arm.

Briefly, the operation of the device is as follows: 1 When the signal arm 8 is in inoperative or neutral position, said signal arm depends from the shaft l closely adjacent or parallel to the cab or body 4 of the vehicle. 'If the driver wishes to signal that a stop is about to be made, the lever I! is swung forwardly until the latch 22 seats in the second indentation 2| in the Quadrant 20, thereby swinging the signal arm 8 outwardly to, adownwardly inclined position. It may be well to here 7 mention that the shaft 1 is operatively connected to the shaft I2 for actuation thereby through the medium of beveled gears 28. If a left turn is to be made, the signal arm 8 is swung to a' horizontal position in-which position it is retained by engagement of the latch 22 in the indentation 2| of the quadrant 20. When the latch 22 is disengaged from the quadrant 2B the signal arm B-returns by gravity to inoperativeor neutral positionadjacent the body or cab of the vehicle, in'which position it is retained by.

engagement of the-latch 22 in the first indentation 2|,jas seen inlFigures 2 and 6 of the drawings. It will thus be seen thatafter the signal has been set both of the drivers hands are free for use in operating the vehicle. The cam 21,

when the signal is in inoperative or neutral position, is disengaged from the contact 25.. However, when the shaft 1 is rotated to swing the" arm 8 outwardly to any 'of its signalling positions, the cam' 21 engages the contact Zifor.v illuminating the arm 8. Of course, when the arm 8 returns to inoperative or neutral position ,"the electric circuit is again broken. As will be understood, the lever I! actuates the shaft 1 upon which the signal. arm8 is mounted through the rod l; theiyokes i6 and 18, the, arm M, the shaft IZYandthe' gears 28. f

It is believed'that the many advantages of a vehicle signal constructed: in accordance with the presentinvention will be readily-understood, and' althougha preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details oficonstruction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall "within the scopeof the'invention asclaim ed.

What'is, claimed is:- v p w v 1. A-vehicle signal of the class described comprising a pair of plates mounted on the inner and outer sides of the vehicle body, ,a pair of brackets projecting from the outer plate, a-shaft journaled in thebrackets, a signal arm fixed on the 'rod adjustably and pivotally connected, at one ,end, to the arm and at its other end to the lever,

said lever constituting means formanually actuatingthe signal arm. I 2, Avehicle signal of the class described comprising aipair of plates mounted on the inner and outer sides, of the vehicle body, a pair of brackets projecting from the outer plate, a shaft journaled in thebrackets, a signal arm fixed on the shaft, an angular bracket projecting from the inner plate, 'anotherlshaft'journaled'transversely in the plates and in theiangular bracket, gears operatively connecting the first-named shafttothe second-named shaft for actuation thereby,-an ,arm fixedon the second-named shaft between the inner plateand the angular bracket, a quadrant mounted in the vehicle body, a lever pivotally mounted on the quadrant, a rod adjustably'and pivotally connected, at one end, to the armand at its other end to the lever, said lever constituting means (for manually actuating the signal, arm, and means for releasably securing the lever against swinging movement, said means including indentations-infthe quadrant, and a spring actuated latch pivotally mounted on the lever and engageable selectively in the indentations, said lever having an opening therein in which the latch is operable.

HENRY E. TURNER. 

